Flexible cover for a mobile telephone

ABSTRACT

A mobile telephone comprising: an engine assembly comprising a display and a plurality of switches; and a flexible cover overlying, without an intermediate rigid cover, and snugly fitting the engine assembly and comprising an aperture aligned with the display and an integrated keypad, for user input, aligned with the plurality of switches.

The present invention relates to a cover for a hand-portable applianceand the hand-portable appliance with the cover. It particularly relatesto a cover for a mobile phone and a mobile phone with cover.

There has been a trend in the mobile phone industry towards giving usersthe ability to alter the appearance of their phone. One way of adaptingthe phone's external appearance is to fit a leather sack-like cover overthe exterior of the phone. These external covers protect the exteriorplastic cover from damage and allow some adaptation of the phone'sappearance, however, they significantly increase the bulk and weight ofthe phone. Another way of adapting the phone's external appearance is toprovide user replaceable rigid plastic covers as described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,347,218. The replaceable covers have proven to be very popular andthe phone is now becoming a fashion accessory which is worn and/ordisplayed by a user.

FIG. 1 a shows an example of a prior art phone 2 comprising an engineassembly 10 enclosed by a removable rigid plastic front cover 4 and aremovable rigid plastic back cover 8. A loose keypad 6 overlies switches14 (key domes) of the engine assembly 10 and is held is place by therigid plastic front cover 4 in the assembled phone 2. The components ofthe prior art phone 2, and the engine assembly in particular, areschematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The engine assembly 10 is inphysical connection with the keypad 6 as shown by arrow A. The engineassembly 10 comprises a plurality of keyboard switches 14 electricallyconnected to a processor 20, a battery 30 electrically connected to atleast the processor 20 for power distribution to other circuitry, a SIMcard 28 electrically connected to the processor 20, a display 12electrically connected to the processor 20, a memory 26 electricallyconnected to the processor 20, radio transceiver circuitry 24 forcommunicating in a cellular communications network is electricallyconnected to the processor 20 and an audio part 22 is electricallyconnected to the processor 20. The audio part 22 provides an electricalsignal to the speaker 16 and receives an electrical signal from themicrophone 18. The inter-operation of these parts to operate as acellular mobile phone is well known to persons skilled in the art, whowill additionally appreciate that although a GSM compliant engineassembly 10, as in this example, has a SIM card 28 it may not be presentin engine assemblies for other cellular communication standards.

FIG. 1 b shows an alternative design of covers for the phone 2. In thisexample, the rigid plastic back cover 8 is permanently attached to theengine assembly 10 and is not removable. The rigid plastic front cover 4is removable and a loose keypad 6 is located between it and the engineassembly 10 when the phone 2 is assembled.

The rigid plastic covers 4 and 8 are three-dimensional and provide arecognisable shape to the phone. They additionally may protect theengine assembly 10 against damage and water ingress and are easily madeby injection moulding. For these reasons rigid covers, and plasticcovers in particular, are universally used to enclose the engineassembly 10.

The inventor has realised that it would be desirable to have a greaterrange of fashionable phones. In particular, the inventor has realisedthat it would be desirable to allow a user greater choice in adaptingthe appearance of their phones.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided amobile phone comprising: an engine assembly comprising a display and aplurality of switches; and a flexible cover overlying, without anintermediate rigid cover, and snugly fitting the engine assemblycomprising an aperture aligned with the display and an integratedkeypad, for user input, aligned with the plurality of switches.

The flexible cover may be three dimensional and used to define theappearance and/or shape of a phone. Embodiments of the inventiontherefore provide for a greater range of fashionable phones withoutcompromising the size or weight of the phone. Embodiments of theinvention overcome the existing prejudice in the technical field infavour of using rigid plastic covers. The absence of a rigid plasticcover, provides the user with better tactility as the flexible cover maybe deformable in response to a user's touch.

The flexible cover may be made from fabric, leather, elastomericmaterial or any other flexible material which is sufficiently durableand attractive to a user. The engine assembly and flexible cover mayhave corresponding projections and receptacles so that in the assembledmobile phone, the flexible cover is correctly aligned on the engineassembly. The flexible cover may have a substrate on its interiorsurface to improve its waterproof and/or shock-absorbing properties.This material may be elastomeric.

The inventor has additionally recognised similarities between thetraining/running shoe industry and the mobile phone industry. Trainerswere initially bought by serious athletes, but they are now anestablished fashion accessory and their fashionable appearance isimportant. Likewise, the inventor has realised that mobile phones wereinitially bought by businessmen, but that they are now starting tobecome fashion accessories. The inventor has recognised that this trendwill continue for mobile phones. According to one embodiment of thepresent invention, the flexible cover is made in accordance with thesame techniques used in the training/running shoe industry. Thus theflexible cover may appear similar to a training/running shoe.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will nowbe made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b illustrate prior art user replaceable plastic coversfor a mobile phone;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a prior art phone;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a flexible cover;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cut away portion of the flexible cover of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a mobile phone comprising an engine assembly and aflexible cover;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a mobile phone comprising anengine assembly and a flexible cover; and

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b illustrate the construction of a flexible cover in amanner similar to a sports shoe.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flexible cover 40 which is sized to fit snugly overan engine assembly 10 for a mobile phone. The engine assembly 10comprises substantially all of the phone's circuitry. The flexible cover40 is formed from flexible material that is shaped to define an internalcavity 44.

An insertion aperture 46 through the material of the flexible cover 40provides access to the internal cavity 44. The insertion aperture 46 isused to insert an engine assembly into the internal cavity 44. Theflexible cover 40 has a display aperture 42 through the material of theflexible cover 40. When the engine assembly is fully inserted into thecavity 44 of the flexible cover 40, the display 12 of the engineassembly 10 is visible through the display aperture 42 as shown in FIG.5. The flexible cover 40 has one or more speaker apertures 52 throughthe material of the cover to the internal cavity 44. When the engineassembly 10 is fully inserted into the cavity 44 of the flexible cover40, the speaker aperture(s) 52 are aligned with the speaker 16 of theengine assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 5. The flexible cover 40 has amicrophone aperture 54 through the material of the flexible cover 40 tothe cavity 44. When the engine assembly 10 is fully inserted into thecavity 44 of the flexible cover 40, the microphone aperture 54 of theflexible cover 40 is aligned with the microphone 18 of the engineassembly 10.

The flexible cover 40 has a plurality of key portions on which indiciaare carried. The plurality of key portions forms a keypad which isintegrated into the material of the flexible cover 40. The keypadincludes a three column by 4 row array 48 of separate key portions whichcorrespond to the normal 3 by 4 array of keys on a mobile phone for dataentry. The keypad also includes a plurality of key portions 50 locatedbetween the array 48 of key portions and the display aperture 42. Thesekey portions correspond to the functional keys and/or soft keys commonlyfound in mobile phones. Each one of the key portions of the keypad isassociated with at least one of the key board switches 14 of the engineassembly 10. Thus, when the engine assembly 10 is fully inserted intothe cavity 44 of the flexible cover 40, each one of the key portions ofthe flexible cover 40 directly overlies at least one keyboard switch 14of the engine assembly 10. Thus, if a user depresses a key portion ofthe flexible cover 40 it actuates a keyboard switch 14 of the engineassembly 10.

The flexible cover 40 is sized and dimensioned so that it fits veryclosely and snugly to the engine assembly 10 and forms a decorativeenclosure for the engine assembly 10. The flexible cover 40 is thereforeanalogous to a “skin”. The flexible cover 40 preferably has directcontact with the engine assembly 10. A plastic cover does not intercedebetween the fabric cover 40 and the engine assembly 10.

The flexible cover 40 may be made from a mouldable elastomer, fromfabric or from embossed leather. The flexible cover 40 may havestitching, zips, poppers or velcro. Preferably, the flexible cover 40 isdesigned so that the insertion aperture 46 may be closed after theengine assembly 10 has been fully inserted into the cavity 44. Theclosure of the insertion aperture 46 may be provided by tie up laces (asin a shoe), a zip, poppers or velcro.

The flexible cover 40 may be formed from one piece of fabric or leather.Alternatively it may be constructed in a similar fashion to a sportsshoe for example with polyurethane printing of logos and indicia ontothe surface of the flexible cover 40. FIGS. 7 a and 7 b illustrate inmore detail the construction of a flexible cover in a manner similar toa sports shoe.

Referring to FIG. 7 a, the flexible cover 40 described in relation toFIG. 3, has layered fabric (or leather) portions 70 and 72 attached toit to form the sports shoe type cover 40′. The flexible cover 40 acts asa substrate for the fabric (or leather) portions. A rear fabric (orleather) portion 72 is attached to the rear of the flexible cover 40. Inthis embodiment it has limbs 72 a which extend around the sides of theflexible cover 40. One of these limbs 72 a extends over the microphoneaperture 54 of the flexible cover 40. It has an aperture 74 which isaligned with the microphone aperture 54 when the rear fabric (orleather) portion 72 is attached to the flexible cover 40. Two sidefabric (or leather) portions 70 are attached to the sides of theflexible cover 40. These side portions 70 may overlap the rear portion72 as shown generally by reference numeral 76 in FIG. 7 b. In thisexample, one of the side portions 70 has a display window 71 attached toit which is positioned over the display aperture 42 in the flexiblecover 40. The portions 70, 72 may have designs and/or stitching 75applied to them, before they are attached to the flexible cover 40 tochange their aesthetic appearance. The fabric or leather portions 70, 72may be attached to the elastomeric flexible cover 40 by stitching oradhesive. The assembled shoe-lite flexible cover 40′ is illustrated inFIG. 7 b. The portions 70, 72 that have been added to the flexibleelastomeric cover 40 including the side portions 70 and rear portion 72and display 71 are indicated using hatching in the figure. In thisexample, portions 78 of the underlying flexible cover 40 are exposed ingaps between the attached fabric portions 70, 72.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cut away portion of one embodiment of the flexiblecover 40 illustrated in FIG. 3. The relationship of FIG. 4 to FIG. 3 canbe understood by imagining slicing the flexible cover 40 in halflengthways (across its depth) and turning over the uppermost portion ofthe flexible cover 40. Thus, FIG. 4 illustrates the interior of thecavity 44 of the flexible cover 40. An elastomeric sheet 64 ispermanently attached to the interior of the flexible cover 40 in theregion corresponding to the key portions. The elastomeric sheet 64 is amoulded substrate and has a plurality of elastomeric projections 62.There is at least one projection 62 associated with each key portion.The engine assembly 10 has a corresponding plurality of receptacles inits upper surface (illustrated in FIG. 1 b). When the engine assembly 10is fully inserted into the flexible cover 40 each one of the elastomerprojections 62 is received in one of the corresponding receptacles ofthe engine assembly 10. Each receptacle in the engine assembly 10 islocated at a keyboard switch 14. Thus, when the engine assembly 10 isfully inserted into the flexible cover 40 the elastomer projections arereceived in the receptacles and aligned with the keyboard switches 14.This ensures, in the assembled phone 2, that when a key portion ispressed it actuates a keyboard switch. 14. The reception of theprojections 62 in the receptacles also aligns the display aperture 42with the display 12, the speaker apertures 52 with the speaker 16 andthe microphone aperture 54 with the microphone 18.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the elastomeric sheet64 may extend over the entire interior of the flexible cover 40. Thisprovides an additional shock absorbing layer to the exterior material ofthe flexible cover 40 and also provides additional waterproofing. Insome embodiments, the elastomeric sheet 64 may extend over the displayaperture 42 to increase the waterproofing.

The flexible cover 40 may be replaced by a user. For example oneflexible cover 40 may be interchanged with another flexible cover tochange the appearance of the phone.

Although the present invention has been described in the precedingparagraphs with reference to particular examples, it should beappreciated that various modifications and variations may be madethereto without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

1. A mobile telephone comprising: an engine assembly comprising adisplay and a plurality of switches; and a flexible cover overlying,without an intermediate rigid cover, and snugly fitting the engineassembly and comprising an integrated keypad, for user input, alignedwith the plurality of switches, wherein the flexible cover comprises aflexible substrate and at least one leather or fabric portion attachedto the substrate.
 2. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe flexible cover is made from flexible material which defines a cavityfor receiving the engine assembly and has an insertion aperture throughthe material to the cavity through which the engine assembly can fit. 3.A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means forclosing or restricting the insertion aperture after the engine assemblyhas been inserted.
 4. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe flexible cover comprises an aperture aligned with the display.
 5. Amobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of fabricor leather portions attached to the substrate and/or each other.
 6. Amobile telephone as claimed in claim 5, wherein portions of theplurality of leather or fabric portions overlap.
 7. A mobile telephoneas claimed in claim 6, wherein portions of the underlying substrate areexposed.
 8. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein theintegrated keypad has a plurality of key portions on an exterior surfaceof the flexible cover and a plurality of corresponding projections onthe interior surface of the flexible cover, each of said projectionsbeing arranged to actuate one of the plurality of switches of the engineassembly.
 9. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein theflexible cover and the engine assembly have corresponding projectionsand receptacles for aligning the flexible cover correctly with theengine assembly.
 10. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe flexible cover is made from fabric, elastically deformable material,or leather.
 11. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein theflexible cover is substantially formed from one-piece of material.
 12. Amobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible cover issubstantially made in accordance with the techniques used in thefabrication of sports shoes.
 13. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim1, wherein the flexible cover has an elastic and waterproof substrateadjacent the engine assembly.
 14. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim1, wherein the flexible cover has a moulded elastomer substrate adjacentthe engine assembly.
 15. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1,wherein the flexible cover is user replaceable.
 16. A user replaceableflexible cover for a mobile phone having an engine assembly comprising adisplay and a plurality of switches, wherein the user replaceableflexible cover comprises: a flexible cover overlying, without anintermediate rigid cover, and snugly fitting the engine assembly: anintegrated keypad, for user input, aligned with the plurality ofswitches; and a flexible substrate and at least one leather or fabricportion attached to the substrate.
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled) 19.(canceled)
 20. A mobile telephone comprising: an engine assemblycomprising a display and a plurality of switches and a leather/fabriccover overlying, without an intermediate rigid cover, and snugly fittingthe engine assembly and comprising an integrated keypad, for user input,aligned with the plurality of switches, wherein the flexible covercomprises a flexible substrate and at least one leather or fabricportion attached to the substrate.